When listing girls with flaxen hair in the 2D world, the first person Su Yan thought of was the heroine from Sword Art Online, Asuna, also known as "The Flash."
However, he quickly dismissed the thought. He hadn't traveled to the world of Sword Art Online, so how could Asuna possibly appear here?
Su Yan thought for a moment and quickly found the answer.
It was the girl sitting behind him, Miyamoto Rei!
She was also the heroine of the anime.
Despite Miyamoto Rei holding the dual status of being his neighbor and the main heroine, Su Yan wasn't familiar with her.
Miyamoto Rei was originally in the same grade as Busujima Saeko, but for some unknown reason, she had been held back this year, which was why she ended up as his classmate.
Furthermore, Miyamoto Rei's plotline in the anime was a bit of a mess, so Su Yan didn't have a very good impression of her.
Besides, she used to be a year above him and they weren't even in the same building, so Su Yan had never felt the need to act like a simp and try to get close to her.
Moreover, even among heroines with flaxen hair, Asuna's popularity was top-tier across the entire anime world.
As for Miyamoto Rei?
Her popularity was practically non-existent by comparison.
She couldn't even be compared to the breakout star Busujima Saeko—the 'true heroine' whose fame transcended the series itself—or even Marikawa Shizuka...
Actually, no. The ditzy, busty blonde school nurse was actually quite popular. Even the pink-haired tsundere Takagi Saya, who had the least presence in the main group, was probably more popular than her.
Though a large part of that was because Takagi Saya had a very charming mother, Takagi Yuriko.
That's right, Takagi Saya was basically a package deal.
Regardless, the fact remained that Miyamoto Rei just wasn't popular.
But that was normal. Despite being the primary female lead with the most screen time, her character arc was honestly a bit of a disaster.
She was the protagonist's childhood friend and had even promised to marry him when they grew up.
Yet, before the story even began, she had already gotten a boyfriend.
To make matters worse, that boyfriend was the protagonist's best friend.
You think that's all?
Shortly after the plot kicked off, the boyfriend got bitten by a zombie and was written out of the story.
Then Miyamoto Rei went into a hysterical meltdown until the protagonist slapped some sense—or maybe Stockholm Syndrome—into her, causing her to suddenly fall back in love with him.
So, upon realizing the person crying in the corner was Miyamoto Rei, Su Yan's first reaction was simple.
'Oh, it's her. Never mind then.'
Su Yan returned to his spot, opened the bento he had prepared that morning, and started devouring his meal.
Strictly speaking, Japanese high schools didn't have nap times. After morning classes ended, there was only about an hour for lunch and rest.
Then there were two more classes in the afternoon, with school letting out around three o'clock.
If you joined a school club, activities usually lasted until around five in the evening.
Those who didn't join a club were part of the "Going-Home Club" and could leave immediately.
Additionally, Japanese high school students were allowed to find part-time jobs for pocket money after school.
The condition was that they had to report it to the school, work no more than twenty-eight hours a week, and finish before eight at night.
Of course, since Su Yan was being sponsored by a wealthy woman like Marikawa Shizuka, he didn't need to work part-time.
Su Yan planned to head to the Kendo Club after school to check if Busujima Saeko had signed the contract and to teach her the basics of Nen training.
Sniff, sniff...
Just then, Miyamoto Rei, who was crying nearby, caught a whiff of a delicious aroma drifting through the air.
It was a wonderful scent she had never encountered before.
Due to certain circumstances, she hadn't eaten breakfast that morning.
Not only had she forgotten to bring a bento, but she had also been so focused on finding a secluded spot that she hadn't eaten lunch either.
The hunger pangs in Miyamoto Rei's stomach were immediately stirred by the smell.
Lured by the scent, Miyamoto Rei momentarily forgot her tears. Her throat moved involuntarily as she swallowed hard, her eyes instinctively searching for the source of the aroma.
Looking up, she saw Su Yan nearby, vigorously devouring his food.
Coincidentally, Su Yan happened to look toward her at that exact moment.
To make matters worse, just as their eyes met, Miyamoto Rei's stomach chose that exact moment to let out a loud rumble.
'I want to die! World, just explode already!'
Miyamoto Rei's face flushed crimson. Like an ostrich, she curled up and buried her face in her lap.
She knew who Su Yan was, of course. He sat in front of her and was quite a famous figure at school.
She just hadn't expected that not only would he see her crying alone on the rooftop, but her stomach would also betray her while he was eating.
If there were a crack in the floor right now, she would have crawled into it without hesitation.
After a while, Miyamoto Rei looked up again, thinking Su Yan must have left by now.
To her surprise, he was still there, continuing to eat.
So, Miyamoto Rei buried her face in her lap once more.
She waited a bit longer.
'Surely he's gone now?'
When she looked up again, Su Yan was still eating in the same spot. He hadn't moved an inch, acting as if she didn't even exist.
Her embarrassment vanished, replaced by a surge of inexplicable anger.
'How can this guy be like this?'
'I'm already in this state, and he's still bullying me?'
Miyamoto Rei puffed out her cheeks and glared at Su Yan.
Then she noticed that Su Yan was eating even faster.
Miyamoto Rei didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.
'What does he take me for? Does he think I'm going to steal his half-eaten bento?'
She wanted to stand up and scream at him, but she wasn't close to him, and he sat right in front of her in class. They were bound to run into each other eventually.
Miyamoto Rei had no choice but to swallow her frustration.
'Fine, if you won't leave, I will.'
If she went to the cafeteria now, maybe there would be some leftover bread she could make do with.
"Wait a second."
Miyamoto Rei had just stood up to leave when Su Yan spoke.
Su Yan picked up the bento he had originally prepared for Marikawa Shizuka. "Miyamoto, you haven't had lunch yet, right?"
Miyamoto Rei stopped and turned around, noticing the unopened bento in Su Yan's hand.
'Could it be?'
'Is this guy going to give me that bento?'
'Maybe... he's actually a good person?'
In her mind, Miyamoto Rei quietly handed Su Yan a good person card.
However, Su Yan's next words nearly made her snap.
Su Yan said playfully, "Tell me why you're hiding on the roof crying to give me a good laugh, and I'll give you this extra bento. How about it?"
Like hell he is!
Miyamoto Rei immediately took back the good person card she had just issued in her heart.